Elks National Veterans Service Commission
The Elks National Veterans Service Commission (ENVSC) is a public charity based in Chicago, Illinois. Formed in 1946, it works with Elks volunteers to provide direct services and resources to veterans and military members in need throughout the nation.
Elks National Veterans Service Commission at a glance
In short: Elks National Veterans Service Commission gave $2.5M across 158 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), top state California. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,477,679
- +18.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 158
- +13.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,682
- +4.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $708,223
- +23.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (36 of 150, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (11% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Elks National Veterans Service Commission
- How to Apply
-
Eligible Lodges apply online for the relevant program. Freedom Grant applications should explain the project, how it addresses the needs of veterans or active-duty military members, and how the funds will be budgeted. Focus Grant applications should provide a detailed, practical project plan and budget; funds must support an Elks-led project focused exclusively on preventing or addressing veteran homelessness.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2750 N Lakeview Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614-1889
Phone: (773) 755-4810
Website: https://elks.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Elks National Veterans Service Commission funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Hopkins MN No 2221 ($82K). Together the top 10 received $540K.
Grant Size Distribution
630 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 618 grants of 630 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Commission describes its programs as serving veterans and military members throughout the nation. In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to California and Florida, at 11% each, followed by Texas at 8%, Washington at 7%, and Minnesota at 6%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 158 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Elks National Veterans Service Commission open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 36 of 150 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $14K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2021) to $2.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 158 grants totaling $2.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hopkins MN No 2221 Hopkins, MN | Welcome Home | $82,088 |
| Eureka-Pacific Mo No 2644 Eureka, MO | Welcome Home | $67,607 |
| Lynnwood Wa No 2171 Lynnwood, WA | Welcome Home | $48,671 |
| Colorado Elks Association Centennial, CO | Voluntary Service Program | $48,575 |
| El Paso TX NM No 187 El Paso, TX | Welcome Home | $48,573 |
| California-Hawaii Elks Association Fresno, CA | Voluntary Service Program | $47,590 |
| Raleigh NC No 735 Raleigh, NC | Welcome Home | $45,509 |
| Cocoa Beach FL No 2387 Cocoa Beach, FL | Welcome Home | $44,866 |
| Ossining NY No 1486 Ossining, NY | Welcome Home | $43,087 |
| Gainesville FL No 990 Gainesville, FL | Welcome Home | $42,310 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $708,223 | $5,790,365 | $5,630,025 | $2,477,679 | 158 | $86,942 |
| 2024 | $573,639 | $167,544 | $5,183,074 | $2,086,306 | 139 | $50,545 |
| 2023 | $5,694,904 | $5,181,799 | $4,716,044 | $1,606,291 | 116 | $-4,470 |
| 2022 | $5,062,592 | $4,567,050 | $4,031,312 | $1,569,779 | 111 | $5,031 |
| 2021 | $4,503,710 | $4,127,337 | $3,720,487 | $1,383,264 | 106 | $12,895 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Commission’s stated mission is to help veterans thrive by giving Elks volunteers tools and resources for community service and engagement, with an emphasis on serving veterans in need. Its materials identify five areas for ENVSC-funded projects: employment; homelessness and housing; military families; health, including mental health; and educational support.
The Commission’s programs support direct service in veterans’ facilities, homelessness prevention and assistance for veterans moving into housing, and local projects for veterans and active-duty military members. Its 2025 filing describes grants to 1,000 Lodges for projects that included food and clothing for homeless and hospitalized veterans, adaptive sports events, home repairs for military families and veterans, and support for student veterans.
Recipients of the Commission’s 2025 grants included local Elks Lodges and Elks associations. The grantees’ own statements describe a range of missions: Hopkins Lodge No. 2221 in Minnesota says it fosters community growth through professional relationships; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the USA in Eureka, Missouri, says it provides scholarships, feeds the hungry, shelters the homeless, and assists people in distress; and Raleigh Lodge No. 735 says it provides activities and support for disabled veterans and youth.
Grantmaking
The 2025 filing reports 158 grants totaling $2,477,679. Grant amounts ranged from $5,043 to $82,088, with a median of $10,000. Many of the largest listed grants supported Welcome Home activities; others supported the Voluntary Service Program.
The largest reported 2025 grants included $82,088 to Hopkins Lodge No. 2221 in Minnesota for Welcome Home; $67,607 to the Eureka-Pacific Lodge in Missouri for Welcome Home; $48,671 to Lynnwood Lodge No. 2171 in Washington for Welcome Home; $48,575 to the Colorado Elks Association for the Voluntary Service Program; and $48,573 to El Paso Lodge No. 187 in Texas for Welcome Home. Other large recipients included the California-Hawaii Elks Association, Raleigh Lodge No. 735, Cocoa Beach Lodge No. 2387, Ossining Lodge No. 1486, Gainesville Lodge No. 990, Vancouver Lodge No. 823, and Eau Claire Lodge No. 402.
The Freedom Grant program offers $1,000 grants to Lodges for projects serving veterans or active-duty military members in need. Projects must address at least one of the five focus areas and serve at least four people in need. The program’s guidance says general donations to state or national organizations do not qualify; monetary donations can qualify when designated for a nonprofit project specifically serving veterans in need, rather than general operations. Applications are submitted online, reviewed on a rolling basis, and remain open until 1,000 qualifying grants are awarded. The 2026–27 FAQ says all Lodges are eligible, subject to submitting the prior year’s final report and compliance with other grants.
Focus Grants are available to Lodges in and around 13 designated cities for Elks-led projects addressing veteran homelessness. Lodges may apply for $5,000–$10,000, and members must be actively involved. Applications for the 2026–27 cycle were scheduled to open April 1, 2026; the stated deadline was June 30, 2026, or earlier if all funds were awarded.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Paul Ryan as chairman; Bruce Hidley as vice-chairman; Randy Shook as a member; John Amen and Robert Duitsman as past chairs; and Bryan Klatt as grand secretary. The Commission’s 2024 filing states that its board of trustees is appointed by the Grand Exalted Ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, who is elected by the Order’s membership.
Elks National Veterans Service Commission is led by Paul R. Ryan, Chairman since 2025 (on filings since 2022); none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paul R. Ryan
Chairman
Past Chair → Vice Chairman, 2023
Vice Chairman → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bryan Klatt
Grand Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John D. Amen
Past Chair
Chairman → Past Chair, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert L. Duitsman
Past Chair
Secretary & Treasurer → Chairman, 2023
Chairman → Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Hidley
Vice Chairman
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Randy Shook
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: David R. Carr (2021–2024) — Past Chair
- Former: Ronald L. Hicks (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: James L. Nichelson (2021–2022) — Past Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Elks National Veterans Service Commission
How much does Elks National Veterans Service Commission give each year?
Elks National Veterans Service Commission gave $2.5M across 158 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.1M across 139 grants.
What is Elks National Veterans Service Commission's typical grant size?
Elks National Veterans Service Commission's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $15,682, across 158 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Elks National Veterans Service Commission that year got $10K on average.
Where does Elks National Veterans Service Commission give grants?
Elks National Veterans Service Commission's top state is California, with 11% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Florida (11%) and Texas (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lynnwood, WA (2 grants), Cocoa Beach, FL (2 grants), Elgin, IL (2 grants) and Miami, FL (2 grants).
Does Elks National Veterans Service Commission give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 158 grants with a stated purpose on Elks National Veterans Service Commission's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Welcome Home" (75 grants), "Voluntary Service Program" (42 grants) and "Focus" (38 grants).
Who are Elks National Veterans Service Commission's largest grantees?
Elks National Veterans Service Commission's largest 2025 grantees include Hopkins MN No 2221 ($82,088), Eureka-Pacific Mo No 2644 ($67,607) and Lynnwood Wa No 2171 ($58,671 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 8% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Elks National Veterans Service Commission?
Elks National Veterans Service Commission reported $708K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.8M.
What does Elks National Veterans Service Commission fund?
The Commission’s stated mission is to help veterans thrive by giving Elks volunteers tools and resources for community service and engagement, with an emphasis on serving veterans in need. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Elks National Veterans Service Commission?
Eligible Lodges apply online for the relevant program. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Elks National Veterans Service Commission's EIN?
Elks National Veterans Service Commission's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1548228. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 27, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 9, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Elks National Veterans Service Commission funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Elks National Veterans Service Commission funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/elks-national-veterans-service-commission-morg_7cba03a7088f4e07b316a9ac580f7f94
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_131548228_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Elks National Veterans Service Commission funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/elks-national-veterans-service-commission-morg_7cba03a7088f4e07b316a9ac580f7f94},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Elks National Veterans Service Commission's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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